THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION ("PHI") MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED, YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION, AND HOW YOU MAY OBTAIN ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION. PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY.
My Commitment to Your Privacy
Karen Wise, MS, LPC is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your Protected Health Information ("PHI"). Federal law requires me to maintain the privacy of your PHI, provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices, and abide by its terms.
Protected Health Information includes information created or received while providing counseling services that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health, the healthcare services you receive, or payment for those services.
How Your Protected Health Information May Be Used and Disclosed
Treatment
Your Protected Health Information may be used and disclosed to provide counseling services, develop treatment plans, coordinate your care with other healthcare providers (when appropriate and authorized), maintain your clinical record, and obtain professional consultation when appropriate.
Payment
Your Protected Health Information may be used to obtain payment for services provided or to prepare Superbills or other documentation you request for possible insurance reimbursement.
Health Care Operations
Your Protected Health Information may be used for activities necessary to operate this practice, including quality assurance, professional consultation, licensing compliance, and administrative functions.
Whenever practical, only the minimum necessary information will be used or disclosed.
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization
Except as otherwise permitted or required by law, your written authorization is required before your Protected Health Information is released to another person or organization.
You may revoke your authorization at any time by providing written notice. Revocation will not affect any action already taken in reliance upon your authorization.
Uses and Disclosures Permitted or Required by Law
Federal and Colorado law permit or require disclosure of your Protected Health Information without your authorization in certain circumstances, including, but not limited to:
● Reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.
● Reporting abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an at-risk adult.
● Responding to court orders or other lawful legal proceedings.
● Preventing or reducing a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of you or another person.
● Public health reporting requirements.
● Health oversight activities.
● Certain law enforcement purposes.
● Workers' compensation claims when required by law.
Whenever appropriate and clinically feasible, and when permitted by law, I will discuss these disclosures with you before they are made. If advance discussion is not possible or appropriate, I will discuss the disclosure with you afterward whenever feasible.
Making a report required by law does not mean that abuse, neglect, or other allegations have been substantiated. The purpose of such reports is to allow the appropriate governmental agency to determine whether further assessment or investigation is necessary.
Confidentiality When Working with Minors
When counseling a minor, I strive to create a therapeutic environment in which the minor feels safe discussing personal concerns. Depending upon the minor's age, maturity, and applicable Colorado law, certain counseling services may be provided with a greater degree of confidentiality.
Parents and legal guardians generally play an important role in a minor's treatment, consistent with applicable Colorado law regarding a minor's confidentiality rights.
However, confidentiality has important legal and ethical limits. If I have reasonable suspicion that a child has been abused or neglected, or if I believe disclosure is otherwise required by law to protect the safety of the client or another person, I am legally and ethically required to make the appropriate report or disclosure. In those situations, I will disclose only the information reasonably necessary to comply with my legal obligations.
Your Rights Regarding Your Protected Health Information
You have the right to:
● Inspect and obtain a copy of your clinical record, as permitted by law.
● Request an amendment to your health record if you believe information is inaccurate or incomplete.
● Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your Protected Health Information.
● Request confidential communications by alternative means or at alternative locations.
● Receive an accounting of certain disclosures of your Protected Health Information, as permitted by law.
● Obtain a paper copy of this Notice, even if you previously received it electronically.
Certain requests may be denied when permitted by applicable law. If a request is denied, you will receive information regarding your right to request a review of that decision, if applicable.
Electronic Communication
Although reasonable safeguards are used to protect your privacy, email and text messaging are not completely secure methods of communication.
Electronic communication should generally be limited to scheduling or administrative matters rather than the exchange of sensitive clinical information.
My Legal Responsibilities
Karen Wise, MS, LPC is required by law to:
● Maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information.
● Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices.
● Abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
● Notify you if a breach of your unsecured Protected Health Information occurs when required by law.
Changes to This Notice
Karen Wise, MS, LPC reserves the right to revise this Notice of Privacy Practices at any time as permitted by law.
Any revised Notice will apply to all Protected Health Information maintained by this practice. The most current version will be available upon request and on the practice website.
Questions or Complaints
If you have questions regarding this Notice or believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact:
Karen Wise, MS, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor #2650
1532 N. Emerson Street, Suite 302
Denver, CO 80218
(720) 231-2459
A complaint may also be filed through the Office for Civil Rights or by contacting the appropriate regional Office for Civil Rights.
If you have concerns regarding my professional conduct as a Licensed Professional Counselor, you may also contact:
Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations
State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 894-7800
(Revised July 2026)
Acknowledgment of Receipt of Notice of Privacy Practices
I acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Karen Wise, MS, LPC Notice of Privacy Practices. I understand that this Notice explains how my protected health information may be used and disclosed and describes my rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
My signature acknowledges only that I received the Notice of Privacy Practices. My signature does not indicate that I agree with every provision contained in the Notice.
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